Health Care Reform?

So what’s everyone thinking? Do you think this is a great thing or not a good idea? Happy or upset? I just know a little bit of the basics, so there will be no in-depth analysis here by me, but I’m interested to hear what people are saying about it. Leave me a comment and tell me what you think! (I will delete any comments that contain rude remarks about any person.)

Don’t they already? At least, I’m pretty sure they do here in Washington. I did read today that people who sign-up with new insurance through the new exchange will have to add on extra coverage if they want abortion coverage. (I guess the way a maternity rider works.)

What concerns me the most is that polls are saying that the majority of the American public is not for this way of healthcare reform. It feels very unamerican that our politicians are not representing the majority.

Hey Emily~ not sure if you remember me. I have been a long time reader of your blog and thought I would actually comment on this topic. As a healthcare provider, I do not support this bill. I am very wary of the government providing any healthcare because they do not reimburse properly. There are numerous physicians that already do not accept medicare/medicaid because they lose so much money in the reimbursement process. I am not encouraged at all by this (I do realize they are separate programs, but still, it is not encouraging). As for the tax-funded abortion, as of right now, President Obama has signed an executive order saying that no tax payer dollars can be used to pay for abortions (it was a last minute decision in order to help get the bill through). However, this can be easily reversed. I am praying that it will not. Sorry for the long-windedness. Hope you are doing well!

Mary Beth, of course I remember you, and I think it’s so funny that you’ve been reading my blog for a long time and I had no idea! Your little boy is so cute, I hope y’all are doing well! I told Clay that you commented and he said, “Aw, Mary Beth, she’s so sweet!” =)

pretty happy. nothing is perfect, but now i feel that we may have an advocate for our health. Most doctors and all insurances i’ve had have used my family’s health issues for their benefit, without being an advocate for our health. We’ve struggled badly in the past financially because of this, and still do right now (our insurance again has lied to us and cheated us and we’ve been dealing with it for the past few months) and we’re a relatively healthy family. i feel for those who have even less options than us. but at least now someone out there is there for us, even if it is the government (who usually can’t do anything right).

Like Bess says, it bothers me that a majority of Americans are against it and he continues to push it. If he’s “for the people” then he should listen to that. I agree with the removal of pre-existing conditions because the smallest medical situation can prevent somebody from being covered and I think if somebody is willing to buy their own insurance then they shouldn’t be penalized. As far as the other stuff…I don’t think I understand it enough to comment on anything else I’ve just heard bad stuff from people I trust a lot. I did hear on the news tonight that 13 states are filing law suits against it because it is unconstitutional to force somebody to have insurance and fine them if they don’t.

Hey Em! I thought I’d throw my 2 cents in on this one 🙂 Reform was certainly needed but this legislation, in my opinion, makes things worse and masks the true problems. I think tort reform and increasing competition for insurance companies would have been a good start. An opinion article in the WSJ today said:
“A world-class hospital in India does heart surgery the equal of any heart surgery in America, but does so at one-tenth the cost (and increasingly attracts a world-wide clientele). The reason is not what you think: low-paid doctors and nurses. The reason is that competition works in medicine as it does in everything else when the patient cares about getting value for money. This is the great low-hanging fruit of health-care reform. It continues to hang.”http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703621104575139732486806838.html

I’m a little late in the game, but here’s my two cents.
1. Ideologically, I believe the government is responsible for very little. I do not believe it is responsible to ensure that every person in America receives healthcare. I say that as a person who did not have health insurance growing up. When my dad was in seminary and had his own painting business, we didn’t have health insurance. I had various injuries, and my parents could not afford the physical therapy I needed. As a result, some of those injuries still plague me today. My brother required surgery when we were uninsured, and my parents had to foot the bill even though they didn’t have any money. I do not believe the government should have paid a penny of any of those expenses.
2. Providing healthcare reform to all takes away personal responsibility that is ultimately harmful to society. We reap what we sow, and it is immoral to demand someone else’s harvest. Compassion for those who need healthcare and providing for them in grace is wonderful, but that’s not what this bill is. It takes money away from hardworking people to provide for people who have not worked for it but feel entitled to the fruit of someone else’s labor. People should be free to provide for others (and God often calls us to do that), but not forced to do it. Also, many times, experiencing the consequences of bad choices causes us to turn to the Lord. If the government takes away those consequences, then people are less likely to see their need for the Lord. If Christians, however, step in to meet their need and share with them how the love of Christ compels us, people are more likely to see the Lord as the source.
3. In my opinion, the executive order regarding abortion and the healthcare bill is worthless. Legally, I don’t think it can be enforced. I’m not happy that any of my tax money goes to fund abortions, and it currently doesn’t directly fund abortions in the U.S. While I was not a fan of the Bush administration, one good thing that they did was put a stop (or try to stop) U.S. tax dollars funding foreign abortions. At the very least, they cut down on it. The Obama administration, however, reversed those efforts. So yes, U.S. tax dollars are being used to fund foreign abortions. I want that to stop. I also want to stop tax money from being used to fund more abortions. Just because a small portion of it is already used to fund abortions doesn’t mean it’s okay for more of it. If I can’t get it outlawed, then I’m going to support whatever I can to ensure that less babies are murdered.
I have a lot more that I could say, but I’ll leave it at that. I love people and want to help them. I hate that some people don’t receive the care that they need, but I don’t think this is a good solution.

OK, Laura, I’ve been thinking about what you said, and here’s what I’m wondering…
First, I agree with you that the government has no inherent responsibility to provide healthcare for all its people… and I definitely think that quality healthcare is probably best driven by the patient as a consumer, choosing which doctor is the best and costs the least, forcing the healthcare industry to up its standards in order to get business… just like every other business works. And in an ideal world, healthcare wouldn’t be given through your workplace, it would be something that anyone could purchase for a low cost. And in an ideal world, every Christian would share each other’s burdens and care for the needs of the poor… but given that neither of those worlds is the one we’re living in, I think another option has to be found since what’s going on now just ain’t working.
I’m curious about your comment regarding consequences and sowing/reaping since it seems like you’re coming from the assumption that most poor people, or at least those without healthcare, are in that situation due to their own personal failures, sin, and bad choices. Of course there are people where that is the exact case, but many people are simply victims of the bad choices of others, the sins of others against them, lack of a supportive community in their lives, injustice, and bad circumstances. (like the person who suddenly finds himself unemployed, is still looking for a job when savings runs-out, and all of a sudden finds himself without a job, insurance, and potentially a home, no matter how badly he wants to work.) It seems like that’s happening a lot these days… and while I see where you’re coming from, to me there is something very wrong with a system that leaves this many people without healthcare options. And I think it’s definitely the fault of the insurance companies. When I was pregnant with Harris we suddenly found ourselves unexpectedly without insurance. (long story!) I tried and tried to find someone who would take us, but no one would since pregnancy is a preexisting condition. They wouldn’t even take Clay because I was pregnant! (we were in the waiting period to get on Clay’s new work’s group plan, we had paid for individual coverage previously) And we make too much for Medicaid. Pregnancy isn’t an illness, and it can be really dangerous to be without coverage when you’re pregnant. Thankfully, it was an uneventful few months, but something’s wrong with the system when I have a medical need, I have money, and I want to pay…. I’m just not allowed. I just think the whole system is wacked… just the fact that we even have to have health insurance to me is ridiculous, we should all just pay cash and let the free market work and only carry catastrophic coverage or something.
Although I really do think assistance for those who are unable to pay is an indicator of a society that shows kindness, mercy, and justice. Ideally, the Church should do its job and the State wouldn’t have to… but since that’s not a reality, I think God can use the State as a distributor of common grace to those who need help… no matter how they got where they are. I guess I’m just saying that I think change is needed, and while maybe this new bill isn’t ideal, it seems much better to me than how things have been.

I know this is old but I ran accross your blog from your facebook link (and google once I saw it). I used to be a blogger myself but it became risky and time consuming. Though this is on the day the supreme court upheld the law so here is my long winded take

1) I disagree that the goverment has no obligation to provide healthcare. it is part of the general welfare of the country. Almost every other developed country in the world has this figured out.

2) It is not fair or free. Insurance companies are in it for the money and take away choices, Its been going this way since the 70s. They are in the business of making money not helping people.

3) Obamacare is far from socialized medicine. Most of it is common sense to curb abuses by insurance companies.

4) The bad of it is a mandate without a public option forces people to support the insurance companies that caused the problem to begin with. The insurance industry needs to go away. I know its harsh but it is. Many will cry socialism and I would say to them do they want for profit roads, firefighters, police, etc. Healthcare is like that based on the general welfare idea.

5) What I am in favor of is a Medicare for all single payer system. Perhaps side by side with the ability for those who desire to be able to pay for extra services. I believe the providers of those services would need to be seperate from primary providers as to prevent a conflict of interest. I am not sure I support the two tier system but that would alleviate all the fear of gubmint taking over and heaven forbid death panels. I can say from experience in the family that Canada;s health care system is not perfect and thats why I kind of support a supplemental private system for those who want to pay and get treatment. Though as the system improves that should become un-necessary

To implement this will take much change in our attitudes and priorities, Our taxes will go up and some things (in my mind these wars would be a good place to start) will need to be cut.

Private charity is right but the government plays a role. Otherwise what do we have a government for?